Dementia rates 'higher near busy roads'

[nitpicker]

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38506735

Dementia rates 'higher near busy roads'

By James Gallagher
Health and science reporter, BBC News website
6 hours ago

From the section Health

People who live near major roads have higher rates of dementia, research published in the Lancet suggests. As many as 11% of dementia cases in people living within 50m of a major road could be down to traffic, the study suggests.

The researchers, who followed nearly 2m people in Canada over 11 years, say air pollution or noisy traffic could be contributing to the brain's decline. UK dementia experts said the findings needed probing but were "plausible".
(snip)

The study in the Lancet followed nearly two million people in the Canadian province of Ontario, between 2001 and 2012. There were 243,611 cases of dementia diagnosed during that time, but the risk was greatest in those living closest to major roads.

Compared with those living 300m away from a major road the risk was:
◾7% higher within 50m
◾4% higher between 50-100m
◾2% higher between 101-200m

The analysis suggests 7-11% of dementia cases within 50m of a major road could be caused by traffic. The researchers adjusted the data to account for other risk factors like poverty, obesity, education levels and smoking so these are unlikely to explain the link.
(snip)

[Warpy]

1. Too bad they didn't think to measure serum lead levels

Lead was removed only in the mid-late 1990s and the lead in gasoline up until that time is still in the environment, especially around the highways. Even being rural doesn't save people, that lead is washed down and contaminates the ground water, meaning their well water.

My educated guess says lead levels are to blame for the extra dementia cases clustered around highways and busier urban streets.

[madaboutharry]

2. Are dementia rates higher in major cities?

You would have hundreds of people living in apartment buildings right over busy streets.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

3. This is your classic "cause and effect" conundrum.

[Lilyhoney]

4. Several years ago I read a report about autism and major roads.

Statistics showed that the majority of diagnosed and reported cases of autism were found to be close to high traffic roads. They went on to say that they didn't think it was from lead or combustion pollution but from the rubber from the tires. Apparently the rubber wears off in tiny particulates and may enter the body.

When I have more time I will see if I can find the article.

Anyway.